Introduction The social safety net in the United States is a complex and varying system. The social safety net in the United States was numerous critics and proponents that try to make the system better or reform the system to fix perceived errors. The two major components of the welfare system in the United States is the Social Security or old age insurance and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). These programs have different perceptions with the American public and those perceptions define as the program is viewed in the halls of Congress.
Main Body Social Security in the United States is a form of old age insurances that help individuals over the age of 65 stay out of poverty in retirement. Social Security is funded through …show more content…
Individuals get to see how much they lose to FICA taxes each paycheck which allows them to see how much they lost in a year and over the life that they work. Additionally, government spending is a major political topic and with the federal government using the Social Security fund as a means to fill gaps in the budget, individuals will tend to have a skeptical view of the program. Furthermore, since Social Security comes from the working class they are made into a noble group of individuals. Social Security is seen as promise that has been made to them that both side of the political spectrum think needs to be preserved with some modifications in order to keep the program going. Overall, Social Security in American politics is called the third rail, which means if a candidate propose radical solutions to the program, his political career will be …show more content…
Individuals are critical of the TANF because individuals who pay may not be able to get the full benefits of the system. Middle class individuals who do not qualify for the program have to pay into the system which can create the impression of a class of individuals that subsidized another while the workers get hurt in the process. Republicans use programs as TANF as a way of getting elected by championing the Forgotten Man. Democrats try to appear as friendly to individuals that are in TANF like programs because it is a means of gaining votes, but also a way advocating for a more progressive
Main Body Social Security in the United States is a form of old age insurances that help individuals over the age of 65 stay out of poverty in retirement. Social Security is funded through …show more content…
Individuals get to see how much they lose to FICA taxes each paycheck which allows them to see how much they lost in a year and over the life that they work. Additionally, government spending is a major political topic and with the federal government using the Social Security fund as a means to fill gaps in the budget, individuals will tend to have a skeptical view of the program. Furthermore, since Social Security comes from the working class they are made into a noble group of individuals. Social Security is seen as promise that has been made to them that both side of the political spectrum think needs to be preserved with some modifications in order to keep the program going. Overall, Social Security in American politics is called the third rail, which means if a candidate propose radical solutions to the program, his political career will be …show more content…
Individuals are critical of the TANF because individuals who pay may not be able to get the full benefits of the system. Middle class individuals who do not qualify for the program have to pay into the system which can create the impression of a class of individuals that subsidized another while the workers get hurt in the process. Republicans use programs as TANF as a way of getting elected by championing the Forgotten Man. Democrats try to appear as friendly to individuals that are in TANF like programs because it is a means of gaining votes, but also a way advocating for a more progressive